World Vegetarian Day-Get the Facts

October 1st, 2015 -
Kaylee Blount

Being vegetarian holds several misconceptions, ranging from only eating leaves to not gaining any protein. However when you delve deeper into the subject, you can find out that there are so many more interesting facts about being vegetarian than the commonly known “no meat” concept. And what better day to gain knowledge on this specific topic than on World Vegetarian Day! Vegetarianism is defined by the abstinence from the consumption of meat and sometimes includes the abstinence from by-products of animal slaughter. Being vegetarian ranges from a variety of reasons, from religious practices to personal beliefs. However the concept of being a vegetarian holds numerous unique facts that may be unknown to the general population!

First off, it may be surprising to find out that the body’s metabolism is increased with a plant-based diet, allowing calories to burn off up to 16% faster during the first three hours after a meal than they would on a meat-based diet. Also, many researchers believe that our bodies are made to be herbivores due to the structure of human molars. Many researchers also like to argue that a vegetarian diet can feed many more people than a meat-based diet can. Many people don’t realize that vegetarians have access to sources of protein, and therefore consider a vegetarian diet to be unhealthy. However there are many vegetables that contain the eight types of essential amino acids, including lupin beans, soy, hempseed, chia seed, amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa! Additionally, another interesting fact is that the year of 1847 saw the formation of the First Vegetarian Society in England, with a goal of teaching people that staying healthy could be possible without the consumption of meat. It’s truly fascinating to think that the concept of vegetarianism and the initiative to inform the public about this concept has only really sparked up over the past century and a half!

Being a vegetarian is most commonly only associated with the “no meat” idea. But thanks to a lot of research studies, much evidence has risen to prove the health benefits of vegetarianism. Ongoing studies continue to show correlations in healthy sustainability in populations and maintaining an herbivore-like diet in society. Vegetarianism has its appropriate pros and cons, however the pros definitely seem to provide great insight into why this diet serves as a healthy lifestyle for many people around the world. World Vegetarian Day certainly provides us all with the opportunity to expand our perceptions of vegetarianism and truly dig deep into why many people around the world practice this sort of lifestyle!